Sven-Goran Eriksson believes Manchester City have served notice of their intent after Micah Richards committed himself to the club until 2013.

The England international ended months of uncertainty over his future yesterday when he signed a 5½-year deal believed to be worth almost £50,000-a-week. The deal brackets the 19-year-old among the highest earners at the club but is far less than rival suitors, such as Newcastle United, were prepared to pay.

"He always told me it would be done and he didn't want to go to another club," said the City manager, who believes a long-term deal for a player he rated as "faster and stronger than [Franco] Baresi" may prove the most astute piece of business since the former prime minister of Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra, took control last August.

"It is good for everyone at the club and it sends a very strong message," Eriksson said. "He is one of the best and if he was on the market a lot of the best clubs in Europe would take him. He will be the captain of City one day and I hope he finishes his career here in 15 years' time."

"The manager has been great," said Richards, who was an unused substitute in England's match against Switzerland on Wednesday. "I've always wanted to be at this club and signing this contract shows that. It puts all the speculation to bed and I can concentrate on the rest of the season now."

Benjani Mwaruwari, meanwhile, has stated that he was "shocked" to be sold to City for £3.87m on deadline day in order for Portsmouth to fund a move for Tottenham's Jermain Defoe. The Zimbabwean claims he had settled at the south coast club and, having scored 12 league goals, was reluctant to move. "It was never my choice because of the special relationship that I had with the supporters, with my team-mates and with the coach," the 29-year-old said.

"I was very happy at Pompey and I think this season I showed that I had settled down well and I was beginning to produce the goals for the club. I was shocked when I was told on Tuesday that I was going to be sold to Manchester City before the transfer window closed. [But] he [Eriksson] said he would give me all the support I need. It's the best deal, in terms of remuneration, in my entire career."

Arsenal have given themselves a head start in the search for new talent in North America after plans to found a centre of excellence were revealed. The former Watford reserve team coach Gary Smith has been given the task of establishing the centre in Commerce City in Colorado. He will also develop the Arsenal Cup, a club tournament that will be open to teams from all over the United States.